Friday, January 01, 2010

NEW YEAR'S DAY FEAST AT GINA'S

There was feasting yet again at Gina's today and this is what over twenty lucky people ate:

After an antipasto of aubergine salad there were home-made cannelloni of spinach and ricotta and of meat:

Then there was polpettone , one of Gina's specialities:

There were also spiedini

accompanied by chips as only Gina can make them, cooked in her wood-burning oven in olive oil and with rosemary

and mushrooms

and dressed peppers

plus peas and green salad.

Afterwards there was fruit followed by dishes of pastries

and I took along what I imaginatively call my "chocolate thingies" which I have now perfected:

Recipe for Welshcakes Limoncello's Chocolate Thingies:To make 25-30 of these, you will need about 250 gr of the best, pure white chocolate and 250 gr pure dark chocolate or vanilla-flavoured chocolate. Have some small paper cases ready on a heat-proof plate. Into these sprinkle some chopped, toasted almonds [no need to toast them if you have fresh Sicilian ones] and a cherry from a drained jar of Amarena Fabbri cherries. Melt the chocolate one bar at a time in a microwave or a double boiler, watching it carefully as it catches in an instant. [If you use a microwave I suggest you heat it on medium for 30 seconds at a time until it is ready.] Use a small teaspoon to fill the cases with chocolate. Decorate with chocolate vermicelli, more chopped almonds, edible silver balls, etc. Leave them in the fridge for at least a couple of hours and until ready to serve. Everybody likes these!

Hi, Cherie. It was lovely. Hi, Laura and Happy New Year. I'll tell Gina to expect you! Hi, mg and Happy 2010 to you. Do let me know how they turn out. Hi, Trubes and Happy New Year. I love the word "scrumbumtuous"! Lots of love to you and yours and a special hug for Her Highness Chloe from Simi and me. xx woof! Hi, DD. I'll tell Gina to expect another addition to the family! Hi, Sally. I'm never going to eat another chocolate!! Hi, jams and Anne. It was, indeed. BUON ANNO A TUTTI VOI!